Jeffran 'Top' Part 1: Just pedals, or includes other basics?

Andrew Moore · Post by **Andrew Moore** » 18 Dec 2012 9:44 am

Looking into the Jeffran "Up from the Top" course, part one, which focuses on A&B pedals. Does this course also include basics on grips, how to pick, how to hold and position the slide, chords, etc...? Or is that covered in some other beginner course?

I.e. is it a good place for a complete beginner to start? (I have some background in music & piano from many years ago but I'm not well trained on theory).

Yes, looking into a local instructor as well, but will likely need to go the course route as well, or for starters.

Ray Anderson · Post by **Ray Anderson** » 18 Dec 2012 10:11 am

Hey Andrew, The A&B course is a very good starter cours for Noobies. I have that course and after 2 years into this I still go back and use it. Up from the Top "D" Lever is another great one for Noobies. By the time that you will have absorbed these, you will be well on your way to creating some good chord theory and usage of them. I can't say enough good about the Newman courses, he is a great teacher. As for simple beginner instructions you just can't beat Mickey Adams' videos on youtube. I used these before the Newman instructions, Mickey is a great teacher and very thorough. Mickey can teach you the basics for "free".

Hope this helps.

Dickie Whitley · Post by **Dickie Whitley** » 18 Dec 2012 3:13 pm

As far as Jeff's courses:

If you're looking for right hand how-to, bar movement, volume pedal use, then get the "Right Hand Alpha" DVD.

If you're looking chord locations and how to find them (patterns included), then get the "E9th Chord Dictionary" DVD (not the book although that helps too). With 3 pedals and 4 knee levers, you can get just about any chord you want or need to play.

I have all of Jeff's videos and much of his CD/books as well. I refer to them often. Highly recommended.

Lavon Chappell · Post by **Lavon Chappell** » 18 Dec 2012 11:41 pm

I would recommend steel guitar techniques 1 and 2 along with the right hand alpha for complete newbies.

Dickie Whitley · Post by **Dickie Whitley** » 19 Dec 2012 3:14 am

I would agree with that as well.

Andrew Moore · Post by **Andrew Moore** » 19 Dec 2012 5:47 am

Techniques and Alpha, thanks. I got sidetracked by the Up from the Top section and hadn't even seen those. That's exactly what I was looking for.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 19 Dec 2012 7:02 am

My Wife has been learning and the Up from the Top is what she has been through. The A&B pedals and the "D" and "F" knee levers. D lowers the 4th and 8th strings a 1/2 tone and the F lever raises the E's a half tone.

The A&B pedals and D knee lever is probably 90% or maybe more of what I use.

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 21 Dec 2012 9:04 am

Andrew

You may want to take a look at my EZ E9th Couse.
It has just about all you are looking at for 20 bucks.
Don
www.donzpedalsteel.com